Jillian Bell’s weight loss journey is one of the most spectacular. During a jog around the block in the film Brittany Runs a Marathon, the title character comes to a halt near the front door and chooses to make a positive change in her life.
She obsessively frets with her thumbs over her fingers as she stands on the verge of discovery during this period of uncertainty. However, it is not a tic of the character but of the actor who plays her.
Jillian Bell noted that when she was nervous, she balled up her hands like Brittany’s character. She felt that doing so gave the person on film a genuine and authentic depth. This isn’t the only peculiarity Bell has imbued on her character. She has gone the additional mile, or should we say, ran the extra mile.
Motivation for Weight Loss
She maintains that no one asked her to lose weight for the film’s physical transformation. Despite this, Bell believed she had never done anything like this before. Brittany goes through the same thing. Therefore the actress reasoned that it would help her understand the character better.
A person familiar with Bell’s prior work, on the other hand, instantly points out that emotional realism is not one of her strong points. She’s best known for stealing the show with her comedy as an office buddy in Workaholics and an angry dorm-mate in 22 Jump Street.
Her precise timing and delivery, on the other hand, have established her as a regular presence in the genre. When Brittany Runs a Marathon came up, she was looking for a way to play something outside her comfort zone.
Bell’s management had included an intro with the initial screenplay. The actress was advised a few pages into the script that she might be slightly bewildered about how it would all turn out.
But she persuaded her to keep going because the message was exquisite and one-of-a-kind. Her interest had been piqued. She was entirely absorbed as soon as she began reading.
Jillian Bell loses weight for ‘Brittany Runs a Marathon.’
Bell had never worked out before, and she despised it. So, like her character, she took up jogging and suffered greatly. She persevered, however. She met with a personal trainer at a gym about two months before filming began, and she grieved through practically every session.
It was then time for her to put on the running shoes and feel what it was like to force herself out of bed in the morning, prepare a meal, and exercise. People, according to Bell, don’t talk enough about the emotional toll it takes.
Furthermore, she stated that there are many scenes in movies where a female character loses weight, and then her life is perfect because she is now a size four. She was sick of this standard.
Brittany Runs a Marathon does not sugarcoat the challenges of changing one’s life, whether physically, emotionally, or professionally. And Bell’s portrayal is made more vivid by the experience she brings to the role, despite being 40 pounds lighter.
It wasn’t until the film’s end that the actress realized she didn’t know what she wanted to accomplish with her life. But, according to her, it ended up in a condition of perfect equilibrium.
Bell stated that running is still enjoyable for her. She does not, however, adhere to her clean diet as strictly as she should. She also admitted that she berated herself for not being consistent with her workouts. That’s when she realized the line between film and reality had become blurred for her.
She had to learn how to give herself a break after that. Bell now has a more nuanced perspective on method acting. Brittany Runs a Marathon and has had her stand on weight loss, health, and fitness.
